Badge with a retractrable holding member

ABSTRACT

A badge includes a guiding member disposed on a rear side surface of a badge body and confining a guiding groove, a holding member having a retained portion that is movable along the guiding groove and a holding portion that is opposite to the retained portion and that can extend outwardly of an edge area of the badge body for suspending an object and that can be retracted to a position between the guiding member and the edge area so as to be concealed from sight, and a retaining member disposed to retain the holding member in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a badge, more particularly to a badge with a retractable holding member.

2. Description of the Related Art

With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional badge 9 is shown to include a badge body 92 and a fastening member which includes a pin 93 fixed to a rear side surface of the badge body 92 and a clasp 94 connected removably to the pin 93. The badge 9 can be attached to an object, such as the user's clothing or handbag, by means of the fastening member. Certainly, the fastening member may include clips and the like.

To enhance the practical value of the conventional badge 9, it would be desirable to provide the conventional badge 9 with a holder for holding an object, such as sunglasses, an identification card, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a badge with a retractable holding member, which is simple in construction.

Accordingly, the badge of this invention includes:

-   -   a badge body having front and rear side surfaces opposite to         each other in a first direction, the rear side surface having an         edge area;     -   a fastener unit provided on the rear side surface of the badge         body and adapted to attach the badge body to an object;     -   a guiding member disposed on the rear side surface of the badge         body, the guiding member including a first guiding part which         has two opposite side walls that are spaced apart from each         other in a second direction transverse to the first direction to         define a first guiding groove extending in a third direction         transverse to the first and second directions and towards the         edge area, and a second guiding part disposed between the edge         area and the first guiding part and defining a second guiding         groove that extends in the second direction;     -   a holding member having a retained portion and a holding portion         opposite to the retained portion, the retained portion being         disposed insertably in the first guiding groove and being         movable along the first guiding groove in the third direction         between an extended position, in which the holding portion         extends outwardly of the edge area, and a retracted position, in         which the holding portion is disposed inwardly of the edge area;         and     -   a retaining member movable in the second guiding groove in the         second direction between a retaining position where the         retaining member engages the retained portion in one of the         extended and retracted positions, and a releasing position where         the retaining member is disengaged from the retained portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional badge;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a badge according to the present invention in an assembled state;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic rear side view of the preferred embodiment, showing a holding member in a retracted position, and with a cover member removed; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the holding member in an extended-position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a badge 1 according to the present invention is shown to include a badge body 2, a fastener unit 3, a guiding member 22, a holding member 4, and a retaining member 5.

The badge body 2 has front and rear sides surfaces 211, 212 opposite to each other in a first direction. The rear side surface 212 has an edge area 213. The fastener unit 3 is provided on the rear side surface 212 of the badge body 2, and is adapted to attach the badge body 2 to an object, such as the user's clothing, in a conventional manner.

The guiding member 22 is disposed on the rear side surface 212 of the badge body 2, and includes a first guiding part 220 which has two opposite side walls that are spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction to define a first guiding groove 201 extending in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions and towards the edge area 213, and a second guiding part 222 disposed between the edge area 213 and the first guiding part 220 and defining a second guiding groove 202 that extends in the second direction. The first and second guiding parts 220, 222 are formed integrally so that the first and second guiding grooves 201, 202 are communicated with each other. In this embodiment, the first and second guiding grooves 201, 202 are perpendicular to each other, but the invention is not limited thereto as apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the side walls of the first guiding part 220 respectively have stop blocks 221 that project therefrom toward each other. The guiding member 22 may be formed integrally with the rear-side surface 212 of the badge body 2. In this embodiment, the guiding member 22 is configured to project from the rear side surface 212.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the holding member 4 has a retained portion 41 and a holding portion 42 opposite to the retained portion 41. The retained portion 41 is disposed insertably in the first guiding groove 201 and is movable along the first guiding groove 201 in the third direction between an extended position (see FIG. 5), in which the holding portion 42 extends outwardly of the edge area 213 for suspending an article (not shown), such as an identification card or sunglasses, and a retracted position (see FIG. 4), in which the holding portion 42 is disposed inwardly of the edge area 213 to be hidden from sight. The retained portion 41 includes a wider upper segment and a narrower lower segment which are respectively distal from and proximate to the holding portion 42 so as to form a shoulder 413 therebetween. The retained portion 41 has upper and lower notches 412 which are formed on one side of the lower segment of the retained portion 41 that is proximate to the second guiding part 222 and which are spaced apart from each other in the third direction. When the retained portion 41 is in the extended position, as shown in FIG. 5, the shoulder 413 is blocked by the stop blocks 221, thereby preventing removal of the retained portion 41 from the first guiding groove 201 in the third direction. When the retained portion 41 is in the retracted position, the holding portion 42 is concealed behind the badge 1 so that the badge 1 appears substantially the same as the conventional badge when viewed from the front side. In this embodiment, the holding portion 42 is formed with an opening 420 for hanging an object.

The retaining member 5 is movable in the second guiding groove 202 in the second direction between a retaining position where the retaining member 5 engages one of the upper and lower notches 412 of the retained portion 41 to secure the retained portion 41 in place when the latter is in one of the extended and retracted positions, and a releasing position where the retaining member 5 is disengaged from the retained portion 41. The retaining member 5 includes a pin 51 and a spring 52 that has one end abutting against an end wall of the second guiding part 222 and an opposite end connected to the pin 51 so as to bias the pin 51 to engage one of the upper and lower notches 412.

The preferred embodiment further includes a cover member 23 that is fastened to the guiding member 22 to prevent removal of the retained portion 41 and the retaining member 5 from the first and second guiding grooves 201, 202, respectively.

It is noted that the guiding member 22 maybe configured to have the first guiding groove 201 only and that the retained portion 41 is slidably retained along the side walls of the guiding member 22 so that there is no need for the retaining member 5.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A badge comprising: a badge body having front and rear side surfaces opposite to each other in a first direction, said rear side surface having an edge area; a fastener unit provided on said rear side surface of said badge body and adapted to attach said badge body to an object; a guiding member disposed on said rear side surface of said badge body, said guiding member including a first guiding part which has two opposite side walls that are spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction to define a first guiding groove extending in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions and towards said edge area, and a second guiding part disposed between said edge area and said first guiding part and defining a second guiding groove that extends in the second direction; a holding member having a retained portion and a holding portion opposite to said retained portion, said retained portion being disposed insertably in said first guiding groove and being movable along said first guiding groove in the third direction between an extended position, in which said holding portion extends outwardly of said edge area, and a retracted position, in which said holding portion is disposed inwardly of said edge area; and a retaining member movable in said second guiding groove in the second direction between a retaining position where said retaining member engages said retained portion in one of the extended and retracted positions, and a releasing position where said retaining member is disengaged from said retained portion.
 2. The badge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second guiding parts are formed integrally, and said first and second guiding grooves are communicated with each other.
 3. The badge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retained portion has upper and lower notches which are spaced apart from each other in the third direction, said upper notch being engaged by said retaining member when said holding portion is in the extended position, said lower notch being engaged by said retaining member when said holding portion is in the retracted position.
 4. The badge as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retaining member includes a pin and a spring that biases said pin to engage one of said upper and lower notches.
 5. The badge as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a cover member that is fastened to said guiding member to prevent removal of said retained portion and said retaining member from said first and second guiding grooves, respectively.
 6. The badge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding member is formed integrally with said rear side surface of said badge body.
 7. The badge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retained portion includes a wider upper segment and a narrower lower segment which are respectively distal from and proximate to said holding portion so as to form a shoulder therebetween, said side walls of said first guiding part respectively having stop blocks that project therefrom toward each other for blocking said shoulder so as to prevent removal of said retained portion from said first guiding part in the third direction.
 8. A badge comprising: a badge body having front and rear side surfaces opposite to each other in a first direction, said rear side surface having an edge area; a fastener unit provided on said rear side surface of said badge body and adapted to attach said badge body to an object; a guiding member disposed on said rear side surface of said badge body, said guiding member having two opposite side walls that are spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction to define a guiding groove extending in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions and towards said edge area; and a holding member having a retained portion and a holding portion opposite to said retained portion, said retained portion being disposed insertably in said guiding groove and being slidably retained along said side walls in the third direction between an extended position, in which said holding portion extends outwardly of said edge area, and a retracted position, in which said holding portion is disposed inwardly of said edge area. 